“Enough to hold you all at our mercy.”
“You know Captain Ortega is in the wheelhouse.”
“Major Starland has attended to him.”
“I have heard no pistol shot.”
“The Captain is a wise man and has surrendered; Valentin, I want to make General Yozarro angrier than before,” added Martella with a grin.
“He cannot be any angrier than he has been ever since I gave him your message; but I accept the situation. He cannot condemn his men for being overpowered when he leaves them no weapons with which to fight. You needn’t fret about the firemen or me—”
Just then the gong clinked in response to the switching in the pilot house above.
“That means go back.”
“I wouldn’t wait, Valentin; our leader, el Americano, is impatient, and is quick to use the revolver he carries.”
“It is my duty to obey orders,” commented the engineer, with another grin, as he made the necessary shifting of cranks and levers to set the machinery to plunging and swinging. The drowsy firemen cared little for what was going on over their heads and slouchily threw wood into the furnace.